The celebration continued long into the night.
Outside the mansion, snow drifted lazily through the air.
The magical streetlights of Frostbound Coast illuminated the winter darkness.
Roads glowed softly beneath layers of frost.
Visitors wandered through the city.
Merchants continued discussing contracts.
Researchers debated theories.
Nobles admired the transformed territory.
Inside the ballroom.
A completely different battle was taking place.
A battle for Kel Rosenfeld's attention.
The participants?
Noblewomen.
Dozens of them.
The target?
The fifteen-year-old Count who had transformed a frozen wasteland into one of the fastest-growing territories in the Empire.
And unfortunately for them...
Their intelligence gathering had already been compromised.
Because the first victim had returned.
Lady Amelia Valtier.
The first noblewoman brave enough to approach Kel earlier in the evening.
The woman who had confidently walked toward him intending to charm him.
Only to return carrying a timber transportation proposal.
Now she sat surrounded by curious noble ladies.
"So?"
"What happened?"
"Tell us everything."
Amelia sighed.
The memory still hurt.
"I approached him."
Everyone leaned forward.
"I smiled."
Several ladies nodded.
Good start.
"I complimented Frostbound Coast."
More nodding.
Excellent strategy.
"I asked about his future plans."
The listeners became increasingly interested.
Then Amelia lowered her head.
"And he asked whether my family's forests could sustain annual timber exports."
Silence.
Absolute silence.
One noblewoman blinked.
"...What?"
Another blinked.
"...That's it?"
Amelia slowly produced a signed preliminary contract.
The women collectively froze.
"He gave me this."
The room became quiet.
One noblewoman carefully examined the document.
Then another.
Then another.
The atmosphere slowly changed.
"..."
"..."
"...This is actually a very good contract."
Amelia groaned.
"I KNOW."
The women stared.
Amelia looked emotionally conflicted.
"I went to flirt."
A pause.
"I came back with trade opportunities."
Another.
"My father almost cried."
The women stared.
"What?"
Amelia nodded.
"He hugged me."
Silence.
Then—
The entire group burst into laughter.
Unfortunately.
Several fathers standing nearby overheard.
One merchant lord immediately approached.
"Did your father really cry?"
Amelia pointed toward the opposite side of the ballroom.
The man looked.
Then froze.
Because indeed.
Lord Valtier was currently speaking with another noble while looking suspiciously emotional.
The man occasionally glanced toward his daughter.
Then toward the contract.
Then back toward his daughter.
As though witnessing a miracle.
Nearby fathers immediately understood.
A miracle had occurred.
Their daughters were discussing economics.
Voluntarily.
Without being forced.
One father whispered.
"By the heavens."
Another nodded.
"She's negotiating."
A third noble nearly wiped away a tear.
"She's finally negotiating."
The men suddenly looked toward Kel as though gazing upon a saint.
Meanwhile.
The next noblewoman prepared her attack.
Lady Sophia Everhart.
Unlike Amelia.
Sophia considered herself exceptionally intelligent.
She had spent years studying politics.
Economics.
Territorial management.
If charm failed.
She would impress Kel with her mind.
The young woman confidently approached.
Kel was currently speaking with investors.
He noticed her arrival.
And politely nodded.
"Lady Everhart."
Sophia smiled elegantly.
"My Lord."
The investors quietly stepped aside.
Sophia mentally celebrated.
Success.
Step one complete.
She began.
"I have spent considerable time studying territorial development."
Kel immediately looked interested.
Success.
Step two complete.
Sophia continued.
"I believe Frostbound Coast's future lies in maximizing transportation efficiency."
Kel nodded.
"Agreed."
Success.
The young woman smiled inwardly.
Then continued.
"By optimizing supply chains—"
Twenty minutes later.
Sophia returned.
Holding four contracts.
And looking deeply confused.
The noblewomen immediately surrounded her.
"What happened?"
Sophia stared blankly.
"I don't know."
The women waited.
Sophia looked at the contracts.
Then at the ceiling.
Then back at the contracts.
"I think I accidentally agreed to establish three regional logistics centers."
Silence.
"...How?"
"I DON'T KNOW."
Meanwhile.
Lord Everhart stood nearby.
Reading the contracts.
The man's eyes widened.
Then widened further.
Then widened again.
Finally.
He looked toward his daughter.
Then suddenly hugged her.
The ballroom froze.
Sophia froze.
Her father almost never showed emotion.
The noble lord spoke with trembling voice.
"You finally listened during economics lessons."
Sophia wanted to explain.
Unfortunately.
She wasn't entirely sure what happened herself.
Nearby fathers watched with envy.
The scene was becoming increasingly common.
Another noblewoman approached Kel.
Returned with a commercial proposal.
Another approached.
Returned with investment opportunities.
Another approached.
Returned discussing infrastructure.
Hours passed.
The pattern repeated.
Again.
And again.
And again.
Eventually.
The noblewomen gathered together.
Comparing experiences.
A support group had effectively formed.
Lady Amelia sighed.
"Did anyone actually flirt successfully?"
Silence.
Nobody answered.
Because nobody had.
One young noblewoman slowly raised her hand.
"I complimented his eyes."
The group became interested.
"Then what happened?"
The woman looked depressed.
"He asked if my family owned mineral deposits."
The support group collectively groaned.
Across the ballroom.
Lyra was observing everything.
The ancient serpent stood beside one of the large crystal pillars.
Golden eyes quietly watching the chaos unfold.
Eventually.
She looked toward Kel.
The Count was currently negotiating another investment deal.
Completely unaware.
Or pretending to be unaware.
Lyra wasn't sure which possibility was more terrifying.
Far beneath Scarder Lake.
Seiren laughed.
"They're trying so hard."
kel mentally sighed.
"They really are."
"And you keeps giving them contracts."
The kel looked toward a noble lady carrying engineering proposals.
"...you really does."
Then something unexpected happened.
As the night progressed.
Some noblewomen stopped approaching Kel because of romance.
And started approaching him because the conversations were genuinely interesting.
Lady Sophia returned for a second discussion.
This time intentionally.
Not because she wanted attention.
Because she wanted advice.
The conversation lasted nearly forty minutes.
When she left.
Her eyes were shining.
Not romantically.
Professionally.
The difference surprised even herself.
Another noblewoman discovered she enjoyed discussing logistics.
Another found fascination in architecture.
Another became interested in resource management.
Another discovered a talent for negotiations.
The transformations happened gradually.
Almost accidentally.
One father eventually approached his daughter.
The nobleman looked suspicious.
Very suspicious.
"You've spent two hours discussing trade routes."
His daughter nodded.
"Yes."
The father narrowed his eyes.
"Voluntarily."
Another nod.
The nobleman touched her forehead.
Checking for fever.
His daughter slapped his hand away.
The father nearly cried.
"She's become responsible."
Nearby fathers immediately gathered.
A council of emotional fathers formed.
The discussions became increasingly absurd.
"My daughter discussed taxation."
"Mine discussed exports."
"Mine wants to review our territory's financial records."
The men stared.
One finally spoke.
"Count Kel is dangerous."
The others nodded.
Very dangerous.
Not because he charmed noblewomen.
But because he somehow made economics interesting.
Meanwhile.
Kel finally finished another negotiation.
The Count took a sip of juice.
Then noticed Lyra watching him.
The serpent woman looked amused.
Which immediately made him suspicious.
"What?"
Lyra smiled.
A dangerous smile.
The kind that indicated entertainment.
"You've accidentally educated half the Empire's noble daughters."
Kel blinked.
Then looked around.
The ballroom was full of noblewomen discussing business.
Trade.
Infrastructure.
Resource management.
Logistics.
Investments.
Contracts.
The Count remained silent.
Several seconds passed.
Then he shrugged.
"Useful skills."
Lyra stared.
Then laughed.
A genuine laugh.
Because only Kel Rosenfeld could accidentally turn a ballroom full of courtship attempts into an economics seminar.
And somehow...
Everyone seemed happier because of it.
Even the fathers.